How do those things respond to sand? From my perspective, it's another moving part that needs regular cleaning maintenance.

Ever heard anybody bitching about it? They (gas pistons, not necessary "short stroke" ones) are on the M249 and M60, as well as many other light machine guns and assault rifles. It's pretty much a self-enclosed system, like a shock absorber.

That gives me an idea. Maybe the piston could largely be replaced by a cylinder of non-compressible gas! I wish I wasn't too lazy to check to see if that's been patented.

Yes, a fluid, rather. Gases are all compressible. And, if you used a fluid, the weight savings would be negligible.

On the other hand, a gas might be useful in that it would function as a low-weight shock absorber, possibly serving to dampen the recoil to just the amount of force needed for reliable charging of the bolt assembly; this could eliminate the need for a recoil buffer spring, which would further reduce weight. This could even be adjustable, to compensate for temperature and altitude, if the gas were air.

I guess it would be simpler and more idiot-proof to just find a better way to vent the gases, so they stay outside of the receiver. I think the only way to do that without adding a lot of weight would be a short piston at the end of the gas tube, which would act on the bolt carrier where the gas-key currently is. I think that would only add a few grams.

It's very similar to a .308, but with that, someone who knows how to shoot will hit something about 5 times as far away as the FN FAL, but it's still as generally useful. This is a good weapon for somebody who wants to fight like a sniper, but doesn't want to carry two weapons.

It's very similar to a .308, but with that, someone who knows how to shoot will hit something about 5 times as far away as the FN FAL, but it's still as generally useful. This is a good weapon for somebody who wants to fight like a sniper, but doesn't want to carry two weapons.

My Browning A-Bolt in .338 Win. Mag. with a 190 grain bullet, using Nikon optics will reach out and touch something. _________________The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.
George Orwell

My Browning A-Bolt in .338 Win. Mag. with a 190 grain bullet, using Nikon optics will reach out and touch something.

Brave warrior Old School: I release you from the bet early because you alone had the courage to put your potatoes on the table and face me in battle. Others talked big but, when push came to shove, they simply fled.

Plus you've got an elk gun and I don't want to spend the rest of my life looking at the wall thinking: is that really thick enough?